The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)(34)

Chapter 11

A fist slammed into his chest twice, but he wasn’t surprised to open his eyes and find a scowling Rhona staring down at him. He’d had a feeling she’d be dealing with some remorse this morning, and he’d be facing her wrath. But he’d been more than wil ing to risk al that because he real y liked Rhona. A lot. And he was wil ing to risk a little Fire Breather rage if it meant getting closer to her.

“I know you’re mad, but—”

She held her finger to her lips, silencing him. Then with the same finger, she pointed to a spot in front of them.

Vigholf raised his head, blinking hard.

There was an early morning mist over everything, the suns just peeking over the low hil s in the distance, and yet Vigholf could see her. She stood there. Alone. Watching them. One hand gripping a stuffed toy dog, the tips of her fingers from the other hand stuffed in her mouth. Curly silver hair surrounded ful cheeks and stark violet eyes stared at them.

Vigholf sat up, looked around. There were no Kyvich. None of Rhona’s kin. No nanny. No one was watching a girl who was never alone. How had she gotten out here on her own . . . ?

“Hel o, darling girl,” he said softly, resting his arm on his raised knee. “You al right?”

“They’re here,” the girl whispered.

“Who’s here?” Rhona asked, keeping her voice equal y soft, unchal enging.

“She sent them. From the west. They’re here.”

“We better get her inside,” Vigholf said, getting to his feet, but the girl stepped back.

“It’s too late for us. We’re in it. But not for her. Not for them. They stil have a chance. But someone has to help them before it’s too late.”

“Do you have any idea what or who she’s talking about?”

“Not at al ,” Rhona admitted. “But that doesn’t matter right now.” Rhona walked toward her. “We need to get her inside before—” The sudden cal from the Kyvich cut off the rest of Rhona’s words.

“Damn.” Knowing how the Kyvich could easily overreact to Rhian being outside the castle wal s without the usual protection, Vigholf quickly picked the girl up.

There was another cal from the Kyvich and, scowling, he locked gazes with Rhona. They both knew a warning cal when they heard it and he was sensing it had little to do with them and the girl.

“Let’s move,” he ordered while running, knowing Rhona would fol ow.

But Rhona cal ed out, “Vigholf!”

He stopped. Looked at the girl in his arms. “They’re here,” she said again, her expression much older than her six winters in this world would suggest.

Realizing what she meant, Vigholf dove behind a cart, Rhona landing right by his side mere seconds before everything went dark from the onslaught of arrows.

“We need to get her inside,” Rhona said once the arrows stopped.

“I know. But we have a bigger issue than getting her inside.”

“What?” Rhona demanded.

“Catching them before they clear the fence.”

With smal swords in hand, the twins charged past them, shooting around the gate.

“Piss and fire!” Rhona snarled, scrambling to her feet and running after them. “Get Rhian inside!” she yel ed to Vigholf.

Despite their size the twins were fast. Yet she thankful y had longer legs. She neared them, her arms almost around them when horses charged their way, the riders aiming their bows at them, arrows nocked.

Rhona shifted, gripping her weapon in her claw and immediately lifting herself up so she didn’t crush the children in the process. But before she could release her flame or use her spear to stop the riders, Talan dropped to his knees but continued sliding forward. Using his sword, he cut the tendon of the first horse he passed. The horse screamed, his damaged leg buckling, his rider flipping off. The rider’s neck snapped on impact and Talwyn ran up and onto his bent body. She used the momentum of her run and the extra height from the corpse to launch herself at another rider.

The blade of her sword slammed high into the rider’s leg, the rider screaming as she used both hands to yank the blade down his calf.

Not knowing what else to do, Rhona caught hold of both children and took to the skies. The girl yel ed and punched at her claw, trying to get loose while her brother did nothing but patiently wait until Rhona landed in the courtyard. Of course that’s when he slammed his sword into a spot between her talons.

“Aaargh! You vicious little—”

“Talwyn! Talan!” Talaith tore down the courtyard steps, her beautiful face streaked with tears. “Where is she?” the witch demanded. “Where’s Rhian?”

“Here.” Vigholf landed beside Rhona, careful y handing over the child to her mother. “She saved our lives, my lady. Thank you.” Talaith nodded, holding Rhian tight to her. “Don’t you ever do that again,” she told her daughter. “Never sneak out again.” Fierce brown eyes locked on the twins. “And you two . . . get your asses in that castle. Now! ” The twins charged up the stairs and came face-to-face with their livid nanny. She picked them up and went back inside.

“Go, Talaith,” Rhona ordered the witch. “We’l take it from here.”

With a brief glance at Vigholf, they both flew up and landed on the castle gates.